Fast. The Duncan Howells trained My Sanctuary gets the vote in the Gr2 The Debutante
Duncan Howells’ very smart Antonius Pius filly My Sanctuary faces her first serious test when taking on nine rivals in the R200 000 Gr2 The Debutante at Scottsville on Sunday.
The daughter of Antonius Pius is more than equal to the challenge in our estimation, and a chat to her trainer earlier this week dished up just a minor element of caution.
The Non Black Type King’s Pact Stakes run at Clairwood on Sunday 17 March has sadly been the subject of more media space and public debate than many Vodacom Durban July races of years gone by.
Sensation
For those who may not be familiar with the circumstances, the headstrong My Sanctuary went to post an 8 to 10 favourite for that event after winning her first two starts.
At the start My Sanctuary resisted being rushed into the gates and flipped over backwards. She injured her head but was given the green light to run. The start was a circus with most of the jockeys believing it to be false. My Sanctuary lost many lengths, but still made up ground to finish in third and marginally over 5 lengths behind War Path. For what it is worth, War Path went on to add absolutely no clarity to the value of that form when running eleven lengths behind Royalsecuritybaby in the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes three weeks ago.
After the King’s Pact Stakes, the Stipes reported that My Sanctuary pulled up with a unilateral epistaxis and that a suspension could follow pending an endoscopic examination, as a result of her head injury. Her trainer Duncan Howells confirmed that My Sanctuary was scoped that Sunday evening of the controversial race and was found to have never bled internally, but directly from her sinuses as a result of hitting her head against the stalls.
Wellbeing
We asked Duncan whether his filly would come racing fit on Sunday? “I did back off her after that incident but galloped her recently at Scottsville. She needed her gallop quite badly but has come along quickly since then and I do not expect her to need the outing come Sunday.”
On her behavioural and overexcited approach to her racecourse visits, Duncan confirmed that he took her back through the stalls and has had her reschooled at his own initiative: “ She is a naturally very headstrong precocious sort and not the easiest of customers. I believe that she charged at the handler taking her into the pens for the King’s Pact as he was running her in. This caused her to flip over and taking her back to the schools was just for my own edification and to prove to myself that there was a fair explanation for the incident,” he said.
Choice
On her chances for Sunday, Duncan said that he had every respect for Mike Miller’s debut winner Glorious Moment, who will be partnered by Anton Marcus.He smiled when asked whether Alec Forbes , who won first time out on Glorious Moment, had been given the choice of rides.
“Alec is our stable jockey and he rides My Sanctuary. That said he has a very high regard for Mike’s filly (Glorious Moment) , but what may work in our favour is the fact that Alec thinks that Glorious Moment is looking for a little further to show her true ability.” In closing, we asked Duncan how My Sanctuary rated when compared to Zeeno, his champion f years gone by.
“My Sanctuary is a precocious sort and she now needs to that the next step and show us that she will train on into something special. Zeeno was outstanding,” he said.
Mike Miller’s Count Dubois filly Glorious Moment returns from a ten week rest from her sweeping debut victory over the course and distance. She gets 2kgs from My Sanctuary and every assistance from the saddle, and it will be interesting to see whether she has the speed to catch the Howells flyer. Alec Forbes will know how to counter the threat.
Held
Chris Erasmus’ Silvino filly Sophia is well held by Glorious Moment, and took six starts to win her maiden at her last start over the Greyville 1300m. Corne Spies deserves full marks for travelling to all four corners of South Africa, and he brings recent Kimberley maiden winner Scarlet Moon to Scottsville. Her stablemate Olympic Owen shed his maiden at Kimberley and then upset the big guns at Turffontein a few weeks ago.
Can lightning strike twice?
